Plastic clamp



H. G RAGG PLASTIC CLAMP Aug. 7, 1951 Filed Sept. 20, 1949 INVENTOR 99 BYMM 021; Add rm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 PLASTIC CLAMP Henry Gragg, Prescott, Ariz.,assignor of onefifth to Laurence S. Mason, Prescott, Ariz.

Application September 20, rain, Serial No. 116,813 2 Claims. (01.24-248) The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a clamphaving gripping jaws and operating arms which are locked in a setclamping position.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamp of the above type whichis made of plastic material such as vinyl resin or similar thermoplasticwherein the arms attached to the jaws for operating the same haveinterlocking means for holding the jaws in a set position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic clamp of theabove type wherein one of the arms is arcuate in shape and extendsthrough a passage in the other arm for interlocking engagementtherewith.

Another object is to provide a plastic clamp of the above type wherein akeeper on one arm is engaged by teeth on the other arm for holding thejaws in set position and wherein said arm carrying the teeth is arcuatein shape and so dimensioned that the resiliency of the material willyieldingly hold the teeth in engagement with said keeper.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinvention:

Figure 1 is a side view of the clamp with parts broken away to show thelocking shoulder;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same, the view being taken from the sidethereof through which the locking member projects;

Figure 3 is an edge view taken from the other side of the clamp; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The improved clamp consists of two jaws 3 and 4. The jaw 3 has an arm Iformed integral therewith which extends outwardly from the jaw and isprovided with a passage I therethrough. The jaw 4 has integrally formedtherewith an arcuate arm 2. This arm is arcuate all the Way from the jaw4 to the outer end thereof and the outer end is so dimensioned as topass through the passage I. The arms I and 2 cross each other and theyare joined by a pivot 6. In the present illustrated embodiment of theinvention the arm 3 is slot-ted as indicated at 5 and the arm 2 passestherethrough. Both of the arms and jaws are made preferably from aplasticized resinous material such as vinyl resin or similarthermoplastic. The jaws are so proportioned that they are substantiallyrigid while the arms I and 2 are dimensioned so that they are resilient.The inner wall of the passage 1 is shaped so as to form a rigid keeper8. The arcuate arm has a series of teeth I!) extending across the innerface for engageand beyond the arm I.

ment with the keeper for holding the jaws in set position. The arcuatearm is so shaped that the teeth In make yieldingcontact with the keeper8 unless said arm is forced outwardly by pressure applied to the endthereof so that the teeth are released from engagement with the keeper.It is the resiliency of the arm 2 which normally holds the teeth inengagement with the keeper 8. When the arms are pressed towards eachother the jaws are brought into engagement with the material which is tobe clamped and after the jaws contact the material the arm I which isresilient may be moved into engagement with one of the teeth so that thejaws will grip the material very tightly through the resiliency of thearm I.

The jaw 3 adjacent its end is provided with a 4 cut-away portion 1 lextending across the face of the jaw and the jaw 4 is provided with acut-away portion l2 which faces the cut-away portion II. There are likecut-away portions I3 and I4 further back on the jaws which face eachother. This facilitates the gripping of material of varying thicknesses,and the clamping of article portions extending through the cut-awayportions.

The arms I is extended as indicated at 9 to form a fingerpiece and thearcuate arm 2 is of a length so that it projects through the passageThis greatly aids the operator in grasping the fingerpiece 9 and the endof the arcuate arm between the thumb and finger for springing the armoutwardly and releasing the teeth from the keeper.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A plastic clamp comprising a pair of clamping jaws, resilient armsformed integral with said jaws respectively, said arms crossing eachother and pivoted together adjacent the jaws, one of said armsprojecting outwardly from the pivotal connection and having a passagetherethrough adjacent its outer end, the other arm being arcuate inshape from a point adjacent the pivot to the outer end thereof andextending outwardly and thence laterally through said passage, the innerwall of said passage being shaped so as to form a rigid keeper, saidarcuate arm having a series of teeth extending across its inner face forengagement with the keeper for holding the jaws in a set position, theresiliency of the arcuate arm operating to hold the teeth in engagementwith the keeper.

2. A plastic clamp comprising a pair of clamping jaws, resilient armsformed integral with said jaws respectively, said arms crossing eachother and pivoted together adjacent the jaws, one of said armsprojecting outwardly from the pivotal connection and having a passagetherethrough adjacent its outer end, the other arm being arcuate inshape from a point adjacent the pivot to the outerend thereof andextending outwardly and thence laterally through said passage, the

inner wall of said passage being shaped so as to tended to provide afinger piece and said arcuate arm extending beyond the arm with thepassage whereby the finger piece and the end of the arcuate arm may begrasped between th thumb and finger for releasing the arcuate arm fromthe keeper.

3 HENRY GRAGG.

REFERENCES CITED The iollpwlng references aidr record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,538 Joy Sept. 17, 1895832,317 Hinds Oct. 2, 1906 838,514 Baker Dec. 18, 1906 2,173,010 Demflrio Sept. 12, 1939 2,261,005 Thompson et a1. Oct. 28, 1941

